Curated sections, international perspectives
Art Düsseldorf will present a diverse program of contemporary art from April 11 to 13, 2025, at Areal Böhler. With curated sections and thematic focuses, the fair reaffirms its role as a key platform in the art market. Whether seasoned collectors, curious newcomers, or an art-loving public Art Düsseldorf invites visitors to explore the richness of contemporary art and to discover new perspectives.
New Section: PAPER
PAPER, a newly introduced section in the fair‘s Kaltstahlhalle, is dedicated exclusively to the medium of paper. Six selected galleries will showcase the artistic diversity of this both traditional and contemporary medium. More than just a material, paper functions as a conceptual medium of expression. The approaches range from sculptural interventions and photographic deconstructions to feminist conceptual works.
SCULPTURE SPOTS
Curator and cultural journalist Julia Meyer-Brehm will curate the Sculpture Spots at Art Düsseldorf 2025. Once again, large-scale sculptures will enrich the two exhibition halls.
Julia Meyer-Brehm has been writing for numerous print and online magazines—including Monopol, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, radio3, and gallerytalk.net—as well as for exhibition and catalog texts since 2018. She also develops talks and events and has been working at the Kunstgewerbe museum Berlin since 2024.
Focus Japan
Düsseldorf is home to the third largest Japanese community in Europe, following London and Paris. Building on the success of the 2024 presentation of the anonymous art project from Tokyo, Art Düsseldorf continues its focus on Japan.
In 2025, the anonymous art project will once again be part of the fair. Under the curation of Yoko Nose, the contemporary Japanese art scene will be highlighted, featuring works by Norimichi Hirakawa, Hiraku Suzuki, and four emerging artists.
Yoko Nose was a curator at the Toyota Municipal Museum from 2017 to 2024 and served as a curator for the Aichi Triennale in 2019. From 2025, she will take on the role of Senior Curator at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. Her recent major exhibitions include Ho Tzu Nyen: Night March of Hundred Monsters (2021–22), Cat’s Narrow Road (2023), and Wunderkammer to Come: From the Uncompleted, a Beginning (2024). She has also contributed numerous articles to Japanese art journals and online magazines.
This focus on Japan is further enriched by additional Japanese artists and projects presented by participating galleries.
SOLO AND PROJECTS: Liminal State and Love is the Answer
The Solo and Projects section offers a platform for galleries to present distinctive solo exhibitions and special projects. With 16 participating galleries, this section has reached its highest participation to date.
Two thematic focuses structure the presentations:
Liminal State: This focus explores artistic positions that examine states of transition and transformation. In this liminal space, where nothing is certain but everything is possible, crisis and hope intersect, and past, present, and future merge. The featured artists address social upheavals—from the rapid development of artificial intelligence to urgent environmental issues.
Love is the Answer: From romantic partnerships and family bonds to self-chosen communities, from functional love substitutes to idealized fantasies—this focus explores the complex spectrum of love. The selected works capture both euphoric moments of happiness and the pain of heartbreak, reflecting how artists perceive, process, and express this universal experience. They also highlight the many forms of love in today’s world, including its social and political dimensions.
TALES OF TRANSFORMATION
Artistic positions in this section investigate sustainability, climate change, and the relationship between humans and natural resources. Curated by Linda Peitz, these works encourage shifts in perspective and critical reflection on a climate-neutral future.
Linda Peitz is a freelance curator and collection consultant based in Berlin. Her recent projects include Too Much Future. Donation Collection Peters-Messer at Kunstpalast Düsseldorf, Status Report at Kunstraum Potsdam, and And I Trust You at the Miettinen Collection in Berlin.
In a world shaped by climate change and the depletion of resources, artists respond to these far-reaching transformations and the human impact on them through aesthetic expression. Their works are not just reflections but dynamic narratives—unfolding with every encounter and inviting us to experience hope, pleasure, and the search for new paths in new ways.
Artists have long drawn inspiration from nature—its beauty, brutality, and mysticism. Today, however, their engagement extends beyond fascination: they approach nature not only as a resource but as a living entity, continuously altered by human actions. The focus is no longer just on utilization but on the responsibility to protect and interact with our environment in a sustainable way.
From concept to realization, artists explore the many layers of transformation. They experiment with materials that evolve over time or create works that challenge our perception. In the encounter between material and idea, their art pauses time, offering glimpses into a future that remains unknown—yet urging us to embark on new, more sustainable paths.
Press release from Art Düsseldorf
Image: Isamu Gakiya. 2025. Image courtesy of the artist and Masumi Sasaki Gallery
